Following the team with a unique perspective on all things Phillies.Email me: PhilliesPhollowers@comcast.net – Peace, Love & Baseball – Jenn

Hamels Rebounds With A Shut-Out

Cole Hamels is back in All-Star shape after today’s complete game shut-out of the Reds, giving up only 3 hits and 3 walks with 4 strike outs.He looked more than comfortable, even giving a wry smile when Ken Griffey Jr. missed home run #600 by inches off him late in the game, flying out to Shane Victorino in center who caught the long ball right up against the padded wall.Cole wasn’t rattled.He just grinned and kept right on pitching.So, now he can sit back and celebrate a job well done and give his tired arm a well deserved rest J

Bit of a slowdown offensively again, with just 5 hits and 2 earned runs; the other runs came off of errors.One thing to point out though is that Geoff Jenkins has been quietly bringing his average up.He is at a .285 right now and the home run today puts him at 6 for the year, which is an area I think when he was brought in, he was really expected to put up some numbers similar to what Rowand did when he was here.So, this is a good sign that he may have found his comfort zone in this park and with the team.Victorino had another hit today too, which continues his streak of consistent hitting and getting on base.He is batting a .283 right now and has 12 stolen bases.It’s good to see some of these guys that had been struggling look like they have found their groove.

On to Atlanta now to face the Braves who have recently been rocked by the loss of veteran pitcher John Smoltz to surgery.I would pretend to be saddened by this news, but then you might scroll down my blog and see my Braves voodoo doll and realize that I am so not telling the truth JWell, in all honesty, I wish pain and surgery upon no one; but a really good opposing pitcher is welcome to take a vacation from his team any time he likes, especially when they are about to play the Phillies!

And since I forgot to mention it in the previous entry, if anyone has an odd fear of squirrels, stay out of sections 145 and 144 in Citizens Bank Park.That is where my friend the squirrel was wandering about yesterday JBut seriously people, they are so cute!Just toss him a french fry and let him be…Have a good one!

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